Experiment No: M4

Experiment Name: Maxwell’s Wheel

Objective: Deriving principle of conservation of energy and conversion between kinetic and
potential energy.

Keywords: Potential Energy and Lineer and Rotation Kinetic Energy.

Theoretical Information:
The Maxwell’s wheel experiment is aimed on the investigation of conversions between potential
energy and linear and rotation kinetic energy. Physical facts can be classified by the interaction with
their environment, as isolated and non-isolated systems. In non-isolated systems, there is energy
transfer with the outside of system. However there are no such transfer in isolated systems. Therefore
the total energy is conserved in isolated systems.
Energy can be found in different forms (i.e. mechanical, heat, nuclear, chemical, radiation, electrical,
etc...) and these forms can transform to each other. As an example, steam engine transforms heat
energy to mechanical energy, nuclear reactor transforms nuclear energy to mechanical energy then
electrical energy, hydroelectric power plants transforms mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Let’s investigate the hydropower plant. Consider a dam gate opened and closed (𝑡 = 𝑡1 ). for just a
moment. For this 𝑡 = 0 moment, a fair amount of water body stays at a certain height of ℎ from the
unmoving tribunes at bottom. For this state, water body who rests at a ℎ height above the tribunes has
potential energy. Let the time flow until the water reaches to the tribunes and stop just before (𝑡 =
𝑡1 ). In this state, water body has moved downward (ℎ = 𝑥) and some his potential energy is converted
to the kinetic energy. There are no energy loss (frictions are neglected) so the total energy should be
conserved. If we let the water (and time) flow again (𝑡 = 𝑡1 ), the water body hits the tribunes and
transfer its kinetic energy to them as rotational kinetic energy. Maxwell Wheel is an experimental
setup for investigate the transformation of these three energies.
In setup, a rigid metal disk is used with a shaft passing through its middle axis and hanged from the
two ends of the shaft by rope. By rolling the ropes on shaft, disk is raised to an upper position and set
free to unroll. The disk starts to fall down by rotating around its own axis without any initial velocity.
After the rope is fully extended (equilibrium position), disk starts to turn in the opposite direction and
starts to roll upward. While the frictions are neglected, the disk should rise to its initial position and
continue to this motion periodically. Let’s investigate this system closely:
Consider the higher position of disk as 𝑥 = ℎ, and the equilibrium (fully extended) position as 𝑥 = 0.
At higher (𝑥 = ℎ) position (𝑡 = 0) , total energy of system is given by;
𝐸 = 𝑚𝑔𝑥 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ 4.1

Where 𝑚 is total mass of disk and shaft.

When the disk loosed free, is starts to roll and move downward, it has a potential
energy due to its height (𝑥 = ℎ𝑥 ) a lineer kinetic energy (𝐸𝐾𝐿 ) due to its movement in vertical
direction (𝑣𝑥 ) and a rotational kinetic energy (𝐸𝐾𝑅 ) due to its rotation (𝑤𝑥 ).

Where m is total mass of disk and shaft. Concisely, the potential energy system had at beginning is
transforming to kinetic energy. Due to isolation of system, total energy should be equal to the initial
conditions and given by;
 1 1
𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑥 , 𝐸𝐾𝐿 = 2 𝑚𝑣𝑥2 , 𝐸𝐾𝑅 = 2 𝐼𝑤𝑥2 4.2
1 1
𝐸 = 𝐸𝑝 + 𝐸𝐾𝐿 + 𝐸𝐾𝑅 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ𝑥 + 𝑚𝑣𝑥2 + 𝐼𝑤𝑥2 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ 4.3
2 2

If we investigate the equilibrium position; the height is minimum (𝑥 = 0), lineer and angular
velocities have maximum values. However when disk start to rotate in inverse direction and roll up,
the kinetic energy transforms to potential energy.
1 1
𝐸𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔0 = 0 , 𝐸𝐾𝐿 = 2 𝑚𝑣 2 , 𝐸𝐾𝑅 = 2 𝐼𝑤 2 4.4
1 1
𝐸 = 𝐸𝑝 + 𝐸𝐾𝐿 + 𝐸𝐾𝑅 = 0 + 𝑚𝑣 2 + 𝐼𝑤 2 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ 4.5
2 2

The energy of the system can be given by (4.3) at height x=hx and by (4.1) at height 𝑥 = ℎ. If we
could mesaure the rotational period of the disk at a height of 𝑥 = ℎ𝑥 , equation given in (4.3) would
have rearranged as;
1 1
𝑚𝑣𝑥2 + 𝐼𝑤𝑥2 = 𝑚𝑔(ℎ − ℎ𝑥 ) 4.6
2 2
1 1
ℎ − ℎ𝑥 = 𝑥 , 𝑚𝑔𝑥 = 2 𝑚𝑣𝑥2 + 2 𝐼𝑤𝑥2 4.7

Where 𝑤 is the angular speed of disk and originated from the rolling/unrolling of the rope on shaft.

Figure 4.1:

𝑑𝑥⃑ = 𝑑𝜃⃑ × 𝑟⃑ 4.8

𝑑𝑥⃑ 𝑑𝜃⃑ 4.9

𝑣⃑ ≡ = × 𝑟⃑ ≡ 𝑤
⃑⃑⃑ × 𝑟⃑
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑣 = 𝑤𝑟 4.10
𝑣
𝑤= 4.11
𝑟
Here r is the diameter of the shaft. In this case, the total energy equation;
𝑣𝑥2 1 4.12
𝑚𝑔𝑥 = (𝑚 + 2 )
2 𝑟
2
𝑣𝑥 1 4.13
𝑔𝑥 = (1 + )
2 𝑚𝑟 2

Moment of inertia of a system consists of two concentric cylinders is the sum of the moment of inertia
of both cylinders. Radius is the disk R is greater then the radius of 𝑟, for this case the total moment
of inertia can be given by;
1 1 1
𝐼 = 𝐼𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑘 + 𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑙 = 𝑚𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑘 𝑅 2 + 𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑙 𝑟 2 ≅ 𝑚𝑅 2 4.14
2 2 2

m is the total mass of shaft and disk. By using (4.13) and (4.14), speed of the disk passing from x
position can be derived as;

𝑣𝑥2 𝑅2 4.15
𝑔𝑥 = (1 + 2 )
2 2𝑟

2𝑔𝑥
𝑣𝑥 = √ 4.16
𝑅2
(1 + 2 )
2𝑟

For your report, submit beginning from this page by showing calculations in
reserved blank spaces and plotting graphics to the appropriate places.
 T.C.
GEBZE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

PHYSICS LABORATORY I
EXPERIMENT REPORT

THE NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT :

DATE : ….. / ….. / ……….

PREPARED BY
NAME AND SURNAME:
STUDENT NUMBER :
GROUP NO :

DATE OF THE EXPERIMENT: ….. / ….. / ……….

Experimental Procedure:

Figure 4.2:

1. Prepare the experimental setup as seen in figure. By using a spirit level, check/calibrate the
disk’s parallelism with the ground in fully extended position.
2. Measure the diameters of the disk (R) and the shaft (r) then calculate their radius’.
3. Position the sensor on the highest position possible. Roll the disk at its highest poisition and
measure difference in the height of the disk’s center of mass and sensor’s middle point (𝑥 =
ℎ − ℎ𝑥 ).
4. Press “Start” in the controller and start the experiment. Set the desk free carefully to avoid
initial speed, swing and tilt. Sensor reads the time between the start point of two slits (ΔT).
There are 36 slits on disk so the total period of the disk (T) is 36 times of the period of one
slit. Read (ΔT) and calculate period (T). (P.S.: repeat the measurements for three times and
take the avarage value)

Tablo 4.1
R = ___________ , r = ____________

n 𝑥𝑛 = ℎ − ℎ𝑥 (m) 𝛥𝑇1 (s) 𝛥𝑇2 (s) 𝛥𝑇3 (s) 𝛥𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑒 (s)

4
n 𝛥𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑇 = 𝛥𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑒 × 36

5. Position the sensor for two different x values and repeat the measurements and calculations.
6. Period the time for a full turn of the disk, and the angular value of a full turn is 2𝜋, so the
mean angular velocity is given by;
2𝜋
𝑤= 4.17
𝑇
The relation between the angular and lineer velocities is given in equation (4.11). By using
these two equations (4.11), (4.17), calculate the lineer velocity of disk for different heights.

2𝜋
n 𝑤= 𝑣𝐷 = 𝑤𝑟
𝑇

4
7. These calculated velocities are experimental values. In theoritical part we derived the equation
(4.16) for the velocity of such system for a given radius and mass. By using these measured
values, calculate the expected velocity values for these three different heights.

2𝑔𝑥
n 𝑣𝑇 = √
𝑅2
(1 + 2 )
2𝑟

4
8. Calculate the relative percent error for 𝑣𝑇 and 𝑣𝐷 values.

|𝑣𝑇 − 𝑣𝐷 |
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥100 4.18
𝑣𝐷

|𝑣𝑇 − 𝑣𝐷 |
n 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥100
𝑣𝐷

Table 4.2

𝑇 (s) 𝑤 (R/s) 𝑣𝐷 (m/s) 𝑣𝑇 (m/s) 𝐻𝑎𝑡𝑎

9. Plot a graph for velocity against height. (Let the experimental data as dots, draw a fit line for the
theoretical data without connecting the points by lines)

Graphic 4.1
Conclusion, Comment and Discussion:
(Tips: Give detail explanation about what you've learned in the experiment and also explain the
possible errors and their reasons.)

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Questions:
1) There are a energy loss due to friction in this experiment. If we would want to calculate this loss
what changes should take place in the given energy formula (see also: theoretical background).
Derive the new formula.
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2) For the hydropower plant example in the therotical background, derive the energy formula for the three
states (𝑡 = 0; water body at the top of system, 𝑡 = 𝑡1 ; water at a height below the highest position but far
before to reach the tribunes, and 𝑡 = 𝑡3 ; after water hits the tribunes and makes them rotate).

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